Stackable Folding Multiunit Washstand

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a stackable, folding, multi-unit washstand which can be used simultaneously by several people. The inventive washstand can be installed quickly and easily by means of unfolding. Once folded, the washstands can be stacked, thereby facilitating the transport and storage thereof.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide for a multiunitwashstand, which is capable to render services to several peoplesimultaneously, which can be installed quickly and easily, which can befoldable and stackable and can be aligned with other multiunitwashstands of the invention and furthermore shows a good appearancewhich does not wear out as time passes.

As a consequence of the objectives listed above a time-winning situationis created with respect to the mounting/dismounting of the washstandsand the storage and transport of reduced volume, and the possibility torender the service to a number of users which is as big as needed, asthis number will depend on the quantity of the aligned units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, in all those places being selected for events wherein thereare massive gatherings of persons like military maneuvers, camp-outs,outdoor concerts, and patronal feasts of towns or of capital citysuburbs, there are no sanitary installations enough to give the servicesto the attending public. A fundamental part of the mentioned services isthat related to personal hygiene, dishes washing or kitchen belongingsrinsing/washing, that for it to be provided, equipment is needed to beinstalled in the place of the event, as well as a water supply and thecollection of the residual water. The objective to provide a multiplewashstand that is installable in points such as the aforementioned oneshave been stated in different patents.

The spanish application UO262513(Avelino Martinez) titled “Mountablemultiple autonomous washstand” claims of an autonomous multiplewashstand characterized by a water deposit situated on a tripod, whosefastening device is a frame which at the same time is the support of theequipped washbasins. The water falls from said container by means ofhoses and taps(faucets), whereby the set-up/dismantling is carried outthrough a mechano-type assemblage by means of drive-pins, patternscrews, eyelets, southern cones, magnets and L shaped supports.

The U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,694 of M. E. McCormack titled “Portabledismountable multiple washstand” claims of a portable foldabledismountable washstand that is basically composed of a rectangularshaped horizontal structure, which forms every two by two a series ofsquares in which several semi-spherically shaped independent washstandsare supported. The washstands are mounted incorporated on said squaresand a piping is mounted on the longitudinal axis of the frame, whichserves the taps that are installed in each washstand. The equipment isalso composed of several legs over which the frame is mounted.

In the aforementioned patents, there exists a problem of slow mountingprocedure, that requires specific manuals both for its correct start asmuch as for its dismantling and storage. Although some of its parts arestackable, like the deposit and the washstands, in pyramidal form in thespanish patent, and the washstands in a semi-spherical form in the USApatent, not the whole equipment is. Therefore, it is desirable to havean equipment that provides for an easier setting up and dismantling anda more efficient storage and transportation.

What is aspired for is a structure that avoids the aforementionedproblems, integrating all the necessary devices into one unit, that wayavoiding manuals for set-ups/dismantling and providing a quickinstallation and a piling up and complete transporting of all thedevices that it is composed of.

The basic idea of the actual invention is to obtain an equipment that isunfolded instead of being assembled by mounting, being its handling soelementary that instructions are not needed. The deployment of theequipment is executed in just a few seconds, since the placing of screwsor nuts/bolts is not necessary, which is obtained because there is nopart that is not integrated in the equipment, which moreover providesthe advantage of not having to lose parts or elements of the ensemble.

To get the service functioning all that is needed is to connect thewater supply and the drainage to the multiple washstand of the actualinvention. Depending on where the event is taking place, the watersupply can be taken from the local water network itself or from awater-tank truck, and the means of drainage can be as simple as guttersor hoses that take the water to a drain or, better yet, to tank trucksthat suction the residual water to leave the environment totally clean.

Mass events wherein the invention has an application are of limitedduration and with a floor use not exclusive for such an event,therefore, a very important objective of the invention is the rapid andeasiness to maneuver in the installation/dismounting of mentionedwashstands. On the other hand, said washstands must be stored when notin use, or transported aptly from its storage place to the place whereit will be used, and so another important objective of the invention isfor it to occupy a reduced space during the storage and transportphases.

The aforementioned characteristics of speed and easiness to maneuver inthe installation/dismantling of the washstand, as of the space usedduring the storage and transport phases, is obtained with the stackablestorable multiunit washstand of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invented fold-out storable multiple washstand is composed of, asprincipal elements, a basin or bucket, a water supplier, four foldablelegs for the sustaining of the basin and four foldable legs for thesustaining of the water supplier.

The basin or bucket is provided with the necessary means for the unionof said basin with the four foldable legs in it's sides for thesustaining of the basin, which stay stuck when they have been totallyunfolded. Also, the basin is provided in its top surface with fourhandrails with guides over which each one of the inferior ends of everyone of the foldable legs for sustenance of the water supplier can slide,which besides joining said basin with said supplier, allows the settingof the said water supplier open for service or in the piling position.In the vicinity of the lateral ends, the bucket or basin is providedwith two holes, provided with vertical cylinders, which are located inthe central and lowest area of the basin, which serve as a drainage.Lastly, the basin is also provided with a central hole which serves as apathway for the hose that supplies water and has to be joined to thewater supplier.

The water supplier is provided at its sides with the necessary means forthe union of said water supplier with the top ends of the four foldablelegs of the sustenance of the water supplier, and also with an accesswith a threaded sleeve joint that serves as a union with the watersupply hose, from this part on providing for a set of pipes for whichthe water connects with several lateral holes in which the faucets thatare managed by the users are installed.

In the case that a multiple of washstands as described is needed, somecould be added on through contact between the extreme faces of thebasins that way forming a continuous longitudinal installation of thelength necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the actual invention, a practicalembodiment thereof is described on the basics of the attached Figures,wherein:

FIG. 1—Shows an elevation schematic view and profile of the inventedmultiple washstand with the water supplier and the unfolded sustaininglegs of the basin.

FIG. 2—Shows a top schematic view of the multiple washstand of FIG. 1with the folded water supplier.

FIG. 3—Shows a top schematic view and profile of the multiple washstandof FIG. 1 with the folded sustaining legs of the basin.

FIG. 4—Shows a top view of the basin or bucket

FIG. 5—Shows a section in accordance with Plan A-A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6—Shows a partial top view of the water supplier and its' unionwith the basin or bucket.

FIG. 7—Shows a partial top view of one of the sustaining legs of thebasin or bucket and the union with the same.

FIG. 8—Shows a profile view of the piling of the four multiplewashstands of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9—Shows a schematic top view of the multiple washstand of FIG. 1 inwhich a platform of mirrors is added as a complement.

FIG. 10—Shows the steps to be taken to assemble the parts of thesustenance of the platform of mirrors with the water supplier.

FIG. 11—Shows a section view in accordance with plan B-B of FIG. 9, ofthe sustaining parts over which the platform of mirrors that complementthe multiple washstand is set on.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invented foldablestackable multiple washstand that is composed of a basin or bucket (1),a water supplier (2), four foldable legs (3) of the basin sustenance (1)and four foldable legs (4) for the sustenance of the water supplier (2).

The basin or bucket (1), as can be noted in FIGS. 4-5 is formed by theunion of two longitudinal profiles (11), two transversal profiles (12)and a plate body (13) of boat keel shape welded on to them. In thelongitudinal profiles (11) several primary joining means in joint shape(14,14′) is provided with the sustaining legs (3) of the basin (1), andin the top surface of the body (13), (see FIG. 5) the joining andscrewing means with the water supplier (2) is provided, with mentionedmeans constituted by a first hand railing (17), a sliding guide (15) anda prime bar (16). In the basin or bucket (1) the drainage (18) issupplied, through which the residual water goes out, and the hole of thehose path (19) through which a hose that supplies the water to the watersupplier (2) passes.

The water supplier (2) has a straight parallelopipedic rectangular shapein whose base a water access (21) in provided by means of a threadedfemale socket. From this water access (21), through a conventionalplumbing system that is located in the inner hollow of the rectangle,water is distributed until each one of the eight faucets/taps (22) thatare distributed by four and four in the longitudinal faces of thementioned supplier (2). Also provided in the longitudinal sides is asecondary joint means connected (23) with the sustaining legs (4) of thewater supplier (2).

The fold-out legs (3) of the sustenance of the basin (1) are comprisedof the retention crossbar (31) and positioning crossbar (32). Theretention crossbar (31) turns over the joint (14) of the first joiningmeans and has incorporated a second handrail (33) and a second bar (34).The positioning crossbar (32) turns on the joint (14′) of the firstjoining means and has incorporated in the opposite end of the turningaxis of the mentioned joint a drive pin (35), which slides on the slots(36) that are formed between the second handrail (33) and the second bar(34). The spreading out of the foldable legs (3) of the basin sustenance(1) is executed by letting them drop; contrary to this, two combinedmovements are needed for the mentioned legs to be folded which are donein the following order: first, one has to slightly lift the lateralformed by the transversal profile (12) and second, by unhooking thedrive pin (35) that will then run through the slots (36) allowing theretention crossbar (31) and the positioning crossbar (32) to turn untilreaching a horizontal position. This way of folding is useful so thatunwanted folding/bending is avoided, for example due to hits/bumps.

The sustaining legs (4) of the water supplier (2) turn on the secondmeans of jointed unions (23) located in the water supplier (2) andincorporates a driving pin (41) in the opposite end of the joint thatslides through by the slots that make up the first handrail (17) and thefirst bar (16) with the help of the sliding guides (15), which is madeof plastic and avoids the grazing between metal parts.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, in a column of piled-up washstands, withexception of the washstand located in the top, the occupied space atheight level of each washstand is the same for all of them and inferiorfor the one occupying an already folded washstand. In the preferredembodiment of the invention this length is practically of 95 mm for eachunit so, connecting two european pallets (50) in a way that form arectangle between the two, over which supporting the washstands andfitting in the washstand located in the lower part with several cubes(51) will enable the transport of up to 25 units, therefore providedwith 200 faucets would occupy a height of approximately 2,5 m in itstransport or storage.

The material used in all the components, excluding the plumbing pipes,is of high quality stainless steel, which gives the equipment a goodappearance that does not deteriorate as time passes.

Additionally, by means of a simple set-up, the washstand may be equippedwith other useful devices like mirrors, towel-rails, soap dishes, etc.To do this, two support devices (60) are fastened onto the watersupplier (2) over which a longitudinal platform for mirrors (61)preferably made of plastic is fitted into, which in a transversalsection has a general “A” shape and that extends on each longitudinalside presenting two sides that have four mirrors (62) integrated on eachside.

Each supporting device (60) has an open polygonal shape on the lowerpart, on which several claws (63) are provided that are set into thewater supplier (2) and are secured by the lock (64) that pivots on anaxis (65) and remains hooked by means of a latch (66). Once bothsupporting devices (60) are set in, only the mirror platform (61) isleft to adjust, which is fitted in by pressing on the two supports (60).

In alternative embodiments of the actual invention, the dimensions andshapes can be changed, just as the manufacturing process and of course,the material used also can. And so, in these alternative embodiments,the fold-out stackable multiple washstand can be totally or partiallymade with materials that have sufficient toughness to be able to complywith all the characteristics of the preferred aforementioned embodiment.Taking into account economic objectives of cost reduction, saidmaterials could be of: mid-quality stainless steel, mixes of plastic andresins, high-density polyethylene HDPE or low density LDPE,polypropylenes, polyamides, ABS acrylics or PMMA, PCE polycarbonates,HIPS styrenes, and polyesters. Mentioned materials can be appropriatelymade by manufacturing processes based on: thermo-shaping, rotationalmoulding, manual laminating of open-moulding and injection.

It is evident that the invention herein described and accompanied by apreferred embodiment can be object to variations obvious to experts inthe art as far as forms, dimensions and materials are concerned, which,must not be seen as a modification of the field of invention and of theclaims that are listed as follows;

1.) Stackable, folding multiunit washstand of the portable type whichcomprises: a basin or bucket (1) a water supplier (2) four foldable legs(3) for sustaining said basin (1); and four foldable legs (4) forsustaining said water supplier (2), wherein the mounting of saidstackable folding multiunit washstand is carried out by deployment ofthe whole assemblage without the need of using a tool, whereby abundling of said washstands may be folded integrally for storage andtransport thereof without using tools and may be stacked up to a height.2.) Stackable, folding multiunit washstand according to claim 1, whereinsaid basin or bucket (1) is formed by the union of two longitudinalprofiles (11), two transversal profiles (12) and a plate body (13),whereby in said longitudinal profiles (11) are provided first unionmeans in the shape of joints (14,14′) with said sustaining legs (3) ofsaid basin (1), furthermore being provided in the superior surface ofsaid plate body (13), some attachment and interlocking means with saidwater supplier (2), wherein said attachment and interlocking means arecomprised of a primer handrail (17), a sliding guide (15) and a primerbar (16), whereby furthermore in said basin or said bucket (1) somedrainages (18) through which the residual water goes out, and a hole ofthe hose path (19) through which a hose that supplies the water to thewater supplier (2) passes. 3.) Stackable, folding multiunit washstandaccording to claim 1, wherein in said water supplier (2) a water access(21) is provided, which once connected to a conventional plumbing systemdistributes the water into a bundling of faucets (22) located in thelongitudinal faces of said water supplier (2), thereby providing in saidlongitudinal faces of said supplier (2) for second jointed union means(23) with said sustaining legs (4) of said water supplier (2). 4.)Stackable, folding multiunit washstand according to claim 1, whereinsaid foldable sustaining legs (3) of the basin (1) are comprised of aretention crossbar (31) and a positioning crossbar (32), whereby saidretention crossbar (31) turns over the said joint (14) of the firstjoining means, said retention crossbar (31) has incorporated a secondhandrail (33) and a second bar (34), said positioning crossbar (32) isable to turn on said joint (14′) of the first joining means, and saidpositioning crossbar (32) has incorporated in its opposite end to saidjoint (14′) of said joining means a drive pin (35) which slides on theslot (36) that is formed between said second handrail (33) and saidsecond bar (34). 5.) Stackable, folding multiunit washstand according toclaim 1, wherein said sustaining legs (4) of said water supplier (2)turn over said second jointed union means (23) located in said watersupplier (2), whereby each one of said sustaining legs (4) in theopposite end to said joint (23) shows a drive pin (41), which slidesthrough a slot formed by said first the handrail (17) and said first bar(16), thereby causing said sliding with the help of said sliding guide(15), which avoids the grazing between metallic parts. 6.) Stackable,folding multiunit washstand according to claim 1 wherein additionally,it is possible to assemble with the water supplier (2) some supportingelements (60), on which is coupled a longitudinal platform for themounting of mirrors (61), which bears some mirrors (62) fitted thereon.7.) Stackable, folding multiunit washstand according to claim 1 whereinthe usable materials are selected from high-quality stainless steel,mid-quality stainless steel, mixes of plastic and resins, high-densitypolyethylene HDPE or low density LDPE, polypropylenes, polyamides, ABSacrylics or PMMA, PCE polycarbonates, HIPS styrenes, and polyesters; andthe manufacturing process for non-metallic materials is selected from;thermo-shaping, rotational moulding, manual laminating of open-mouldingand injection.